Drugs and Alcohol are No Joke by Alec

Drugs and Alcohol are No Joke by Alec - April 2016 Scholarship Essay

High school is a whole different world compared to middle school. There are a lot more students, some of which are legally adults, the campus is usually much bigger, and it’s the first real step we take to becoming a functioning member of our society. With the introduction into this new world, the drawbacks are no less apparent as well.
Certain aspects of high school that might not have been apart of some during middle school are prevalent, usually for the rest of our lives. One major aspect includes drug and alcohol abuse. Due to social media, drugs have gained a lot of popularity among very impressionable teenagers, putting them at the risk of ruining their lives and their future. I myself have fallen into that trap, on the road to ruining my life, but being saved by the most important thing that has ever happened to me, being arrested.
At the time, doing drugs was something me and quite a few of my friends were into, something we all had in common, which was a major reason that made me think doing it was okay. But that is the biggest mistake most teenagers make and have made for years, just because everyone else is doing it makes it okay for me to do it also and that’s terrible. One night I was out with friends and I ended up getting hit with a drug possession charge, without a doubt the greatest thing to ever happen to me. It really opened my eyes and showed me that I had a drug problem and needed to deal with it now to learn from my mistakes so I can pursue my college career and establish myself when I am an adult.
When discussing the issue with my mom, she said she had noticed some changes in my behavior at home, for example, avoiding talking to her and my dad and being tired and lazy all the time when I used to be so energetic and happy but didn’t think much about it. She said that me being into drugs is the last thing she would ever suspect because I have always been such a “good kid” who followed the rules and behaved well all the time. This experience has made me want to share what I learned with others so they can hopefully change how they live and avoid the situation that I got myself into.
I just want every student, especially those who will be freshmen in high school next year, to know just what getting into drugs and alcohol can do to you and the path it takes you down. Don’t think it doesn’t apply to you just because you’re at the top of the class with really good grades and are very motivated, because that can easily be taken away. It is what exactly happened to me during my junior year. Not only does it put you on a bad path, but it changes who you are as a person.